Developing the Mind of Christ
Randall Caselman
5/28/97
Developing The Mind Of Christ
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King’s horses and all the kings men
Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.
Doesn’t this describe our generation? Our world is falling apart. Our nation is in serious trouble, families are hurting, relationships are rupturing, churches are dividing. Our problems appear unsolvable. What can we do? Where is the glue to reassemble the disintegration and disarray we are seeing?
Paul gives us the answer.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ. The answer to our problems today is our developing the mind of Christ. the Greek is phroneo, and refers to our attitude, disposition of the mind, to have the same understanding. Our King James translators render this word:
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To think,
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To regard,
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Be of the same mind,
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Be like minded.
The glue to fix our broken world is found in thinking like Jesus. We must think as he thought, talk as he talked, act as he acted, react to people and life’s circumstances as he reacted. Having the mind of Christ means we will live as he lived. Isn’t that exciting? Do you want your religion, your faith , to come alive in an exciting life-style?
Then live like Jesus.
We must have a heart of humility.
Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, hoarded, held onto, but made himself nothing. Humility is a willingness to submit to God’s will. Humility is our willingness to say, "Thy will be done." Humility is a willingness to become nothing for the sake of others, a willingness to place the interests of others before our own. Humility is treating others, regardless of skin color, social status or religious preference as God treats us.
Taking the very nature of a servant. The heart of Jesus was that of a servant. In His ministry, we see Him; healing the sick, casting out devils, calming the storms in people’s lives, forgiving the woman caught in adultery, teaching the woman at the well, restoring Zaccheaus. Genuine servanthood is serving others when we don’t have the time, when it’s not convenient, or when we would rather be doing something else. Servanthood is doing things for others when it’s really someone else’s responsibility.
* Husbands, have the mind of Christ, serve your wife and children.
* Wives, have the mind of Jesus, submit to your husband.
* Children, have the heart of Jesus, care for your parents.
* Preachers, teachers, deacons, elders, have the attitude of Jesus, serve the church.
* Christian friend, have the values of Christ, serve others, even your enemies.
Think about it, wouldn’t this attitude of Christ cure the ills of our nation, families, and churches? Of course! Wouldn’t this attitude fix our Humpty Dumpty world?
Jesus had a mind of love and obedience.
And He being found in appearance of a man, humbled Himself and becoming obedient to death, even death on the cross. Jesus struggled in the garden with the will of God, but in the final analysis it was what?
Not My will, but thine be done. Aren’t we glad Jesus became obedient? If Jesus had not been obedient, our world would be in terrible trouble, and we would be eternally lost.
Now God calls us to love and obedience.
Be HUMBLE enough to be OBEDIENT to the Gospel message, become a child of God, and then enjoy the promised blessings of a life of LOVE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS.
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RANDALL CASELMAN
Bella Vista Church of Christ
